The Pipes, The Pipes Are Galling

Reason #4367 I am glad that I am not a European.

For all our faults, at least we can usually tell the Federal Government to mind its own business. Things that are not federal matters are not federal matters. Butt out. However, for the EU Government in Brussels, there seems to be no limit to what they consider to be their business. The EU has told bagpipers in Scotland to be quiet! I am not sure how you play a bagpipe quietly, but Brussels does not care.

Their high-pitched skirl has put fear into the hearts of Scotland’s enemies and sent sensitive tourists reaching for the cotton wool.

Now, however, the bagpipes are to be quietened by an edict from Brussels.

From this month, pipers must adhere to strict volume limits or risk breaking European Union health and safety laws. Bands have been ordered to tone down or wear earplugs to limit noise exposure to 85 decibels.

Typically, a pipe band played at full volume peaks at 122 decibels outdoors, noisier than the sound of either a nightclub or a chainsaw, which rises to 116 decibels.

The prospect of more subdued bagpipes will be welcomed by some, but musicians have warned performances will suffer.

Pipe majors claim it is virtually impossible to play quietly or to tune a band when the musicians are wearing earplugs, raising the prospect of a cacophony at showcase events such as the Edinburgh military tattoo.

If the federal government in the U.S. tried such a move, the screech of the pipes would not be the only screech they would hear.

in Europe, big brother is not only watching, he is listening too. I cannot help but wonder if another group decided to start playing bagpipes from the top of their minarets, would the EU consider that their business too? Somehow, I don’t think so.